L&M Industries, the local supplier of oxygen, has taken offence with the Minister of Health, Senator Ann David-Antoine following her statements that the company has no storage facilities.

"I don't know where the minister get her story from", said Manager of the company, Merle Byer in response to the remarks made by the female government minister. According to Byer, the company which is located on the Maurice Bishop Highway in the south of the island, has a storage capacity for 300 tanks.

She said it is true that L&M was trying to fix a broken coil but the company had contacted the St. George's General Hospital to inform officials that if the problem was not solved by Monday then she will notify them so that arrangements can be made to source the products elsewhere.

Byer stated that L&M Industries has enough oxygen to supply the local market except the hospital since the hospital tanks are used solely for the hospital and no one else.

Sen. David-Antoine made the statement last week Thursday at a press conference called to update the media on the reason for government having to import oxygen. The ruling New National Party (NNP) government is again relying on the neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago for oxygen to supply state-run medical facilities.

Sen. David-Antoine said that the local supplier of oxygen L&M industries is having some mechanical and technical challenges at the plant and unable to produce the product hence the reason for importing the necessary gases from Trinidad. She noted that already 71 cylinders were brought in to compliment what is presently in storage on the island.

The government minister said that the company does not have a facility to enable storage and stocking of gas so whenever there is a break-down at the company the product has to be brought into the country.

She said that government will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that they can meet the local medical demands particularly at this time when a number of medical teams are on the island such as the alumni of St George's University engaged in eye surgery at the General Hospital and the Miracle Eye team from Cuba that uses a lot of oxygen.

This is the second time that government has had to rely on Trinidad and Tobago to supply the island due to a shortage of oxygen. In 2005, Dr David Lambert, a member of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) disclosed that lack of oxygen at the hospital was resulting in persons loosing limbs and patients being turned away from having surgery.

He said the situation was caused by government owing the company hundreds of thousands of dollars for the product. The Ministry of Health dismissed the claim as unfounded and denied that the relationship between government and the company had broken down due to financial difficulties.

Government blamed the oxygen shortage on the advent of hurricane Ivan which devastated the island in September 2004.